Liu Hui, chairwoman of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on November 20 met with Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Abdullah•Badawi in Yinchuan City.

Liu Hui indicated that China and Malaysia have thus far shared a long history of friendly exchanges. In recent years, Ningxia and Malaysia have carried out fruitful exchanges and cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, culture and tourism. From January to October this year, the total import and export volume of Ningxia and Malaysia reached US$198 million, a year-on-year increase of 212 percent, indicating good prospects for further cooperation.

Badawi’s trip to Ningxia will help promote the cooperation between Malaysia’s Rahim Group and Ningxia University and Wuzhong municipal government. The formation of "Halal Industry Research Institute" and "Halal Industrial Park" will inject vitality into bilateral cooperation and exchange.

Badawi spoke off Ningxia’s great prospects for development. Although there is a vast distance between Malaysia and Ningxia, both sides still have established a good relationship of cooperation. Malaysia attaches great importance to education and the development of the Halal industry, and will actively promote more in-depth cooperation and exchanges with Ningxia in the fields of Halal industry, agriculture and education.